clod-crusher and roller, and also are the recipients annular horse-wheel and double motion; the hori-bed was exhibited by Mr. J. Hancock, of Birmingof one of the ten silver medals for essential im-zontal joint is fitted with brasses, ratchet, uni- ham. It is constructed of longitudinal laths of provements, their prize being for a pair of iron versal shaft, and end bearing, and is driven at a No. 22 sheet steel bent round into the form of a wheels and axle-boxes embodying a thoroughly speed of 100 to 120 revolutions per minute (about half tube in section, and resting C springs at the mechanical design. The second prize on the list one-third more speed than usual), with the horses head. Another of the silver medals for novelty was deservedly awarded to Norton's tube well, and walking at an easy pace; consequently, it requires was given for Golay's diamond millstone dresser, would, we think, have been well merited, if only no intermediate motion. which appeared at the Paris Exhibition. Close to for the services it rendered on the ground, where Messrs. Powis, James, and Co., had a very ex-it was Child's pneumatic corn cleaner, shown last the different sizes of apparatus for sinking it were tensive show of machinery in motion. Their year at Bury, and now appearing with the addition shown, including the largest of all, in which an spoke machine is a great improvement in detail of a riddle for taking out substances heavier than arrangement is made for counteracting the rebound on most of those already in use. The revolving the grain, previous to its introduction into the air of the pipe after the blow of the monkey, by means cutters have two blades, so that at the same speed chamber, where, by a carefully regulated current of a crossbar over the head of the triangle, held of the machine twice the number of cuts are of known pressure, the grains possessing less than down at each side by a series of continually ex- taken, and the work is consequently much the proper specific gravity of wheat are instantaMessrs. S. and tended india-rubber tubes, which maintain a smoother. Their saw sharpener is also well neously selected and separated. powerful and constant downward thrust on the arranged, and is completely self-contained. Of the E. Ransome and Co. had a great variety of exhibits, tube. On one side of the tube well was Mr. Nor- three motions necessary for giving any desired including Weston's well-known differential pulley ton's screw ventilator, which also obtained one of form to the tooth, one is obtained by angling the block, Bourdon's and Schaeffer's steam and vacuum the silver medals, and consists in the employment set in which the saw is fixed, and the other two gauges, Barford's portable boiler, and sundry other of a well-balanced cowl with radiating veins, below by vertical and horizontal adjustment of the articles, from the Norwegian cooking apparatus which, in what we may call the upcast, and on the bearers of the sharpening blade. Messrs. Turner, down to Pullinger's mouse trap. same spindle as the cowl, are two turns of an of Ipswich, had a horizontal engine, with expanarchimedean screw in light ironwork completely sion valve, regulated from the governor. The filling the aperture. The use of the arrangement valves are driven by a crank back towards the lies in its playing the part of a stop valve against centre from the main crank pin. The governor is downward currents; the heated air ascending driven by a sun and planet motion off the valve keeps the cowl in revolution, and though it does rod crank pin, and acts with a rod and lever vernot thereby actually facilitate its own exit, or tically on a block sliding in a small trunk, which make power, it effectually prevents downward receives a rocking motion from the throw of the outer valve rod, which is, so to speak, broken at this trunk, the portion in connection with the valve being attached to the block acted on by the governor, and which, by altering its position in the trunk, gives the required variation to the throw of the valve.

draft.

INSTITUTION OF MECHANICAL
ENGINEERS.

some weeks since announced that the Insti

WE some wee Mechanical Engineers would hold their annual meeting for the present year in Leeds. In pursuance of this arrangement, the meeting A self-moving engine and thrashing machine commenced in the above town, on Tuesday morncombined was exhibited by the Gaywood Agriculing last, by the reading of two papers at the tural Company, from designs by Mr. D. Crowe. rooms kindly placed at the disposal of the InstiThe finish of the machine was not up to the mark tution by the Philosophical Society of Leeds. The of the best exhibitors, but we find the journal of attendance of members and visitors was unusually the Agricultural Society making the following Messrs. Allchin and Son had a portable engine, large, and the two papers read on this the first remarks on its appearance at Bury last year:- with springs to the hind axle, a steel boiler, steel day of the meeting had each their special interest. "Weighing 7 tons lewt., it travels with per- crank shaft, and a superheater in the smokebox. Among those present were Mr. Whitworth, in fect ease, and, having the forewheels placed The latter consisted of nine short lengths of 14in. the chair; the Mayor of Leeds (Mr. Andrew Fairunder the carriage, turns in its own area with tubing, united by malleable iron bends. Mus- bairn), Mr. William Fairbairn, and Mr. Hawksrapidity. The steerage is very simple, and, if grave Brothers, of Belfast, appear with a fine range ley, C.E., Mr. Sampson Lloyd, Wednesbury; Mr. strong enough for stony roads, admirable. Mr. of iron stabling, &c., and many minor improve-C. E. Amos, London; Mr. Wm. Mennelaus, Merthyr Crowe, who hails from King's Lynn, Norfolk, ments since their appearance last year in Paris. Tydvil; Mr. W. M. Neilson, Glasgow; Mr. John brought his apparatus from Towcester, in North- Amongst others, in the loose box, a gate, uniform Robinson, and Mr. C. R. Stewart, Manchester; amptonshire, to Bury St. Edmunds, eighty-four with the manger rails, now closes over the feeding Mr. C. W. Siemens, Mr. Bramwell, C.E., Mr. H. miles, consuming, as he states, only 161b. of coal trough when the latter is not required; and they Chapman, Paris; Mr. Clay. Mr. Kitson, Mr. Greenper mile. The fire and boiler are both carefully have put a very ingenious bolt on their doors wood, Mr. Walpole, Dublin; Mr. Bryan Johnson, shut in; the latter, though near the ground, is which it would be impossible for any horse to Chester; Mr. Brown, Mr. Fairlie, Professor Downnever sufficiently hot to be dangerous. The drum open. Messrs. Clayton and Shuttleworth obtained ing, Mr. Greig, Mr. J. Amos, Professor Cowper is not driven direct from the fly-wheel, as in one of the silver medals for Mr. Gillyatt's revolv- Mr. Newton, &c., &c. ordinary cases; and thus the speed of the drum ing liquid manure and seed-drill, which mainly The first paper read was that on machinery, by can be altered to suit the corn, whilst the other consists of a barrel supported on wheels, behind Greenwood and Batley, for the manufacture of the parts of the machine are working at a fixed speed. which is the ordinary feed motion for the seed de- Boxer cartridge, illustrated by twenty-one fullOne strap drives both dressing part and shakers, livering through two drops. The barrel is divided sized coloured drawings of the machines employed and a V-groove friction wheel is employed to drive into two compartments by a perforated diaphragm. in the production of this very complex ammunithe fan; all the straps are under cover, and are Into one of these compartments the manure is tion. We have never seen anything to equal the not easily affected by weather. The rapidity and pumped. In the other is an endless chain of perfection of delineation with which these drawease with which the machine is placed in position buckets, which keeps the liquid in continual agita-ings were produced; they formed a complete hisand set to work offers a marked contrast to the tion, as it percolates through the holes in the par- tory in themselves of the process, and, ably as loss of time that invariably occurs in fixing an tition, and at the same time lifts it to a trough, they were described in Mr. Greenwood's paper, ordinary portable engine and thrashing machine. from which it flows down by pipes at each side to the description was still indebted to the drawMessrs. Amies and Barford were awarded two the two drops, where it enters the drill simulta-ings for its complete elucidation. We are preof the silver medals, one for a very simple neously with the seed. Messrs. Williamson, vented by the rules of the Society, which we have arrangement of a straw elevator, by which, when Brothers, of Kendal, appeared in the machinery invariably respected, from giving these papers (to the thrashing machine engine is working, it can in motion department, with their turbines, centri- be subsequently published in the proceedings of be driven in the ordinary manner, or by lifting fugal pumps, and blowing fans. Messrs. Hill and the Institution) in extenso, but their general bearthe lower end of the elevator it becomes supported Smith, of Brierley Hill, had an immense collec-ing will be found in the following resume. on a post, which forms the upright for a one- tion of implements and wrought ironwork, Mr. Greenwood, after remarks upon the activity horse beam, the horse moving under the elevator amongst which, conspicuous at the end of their and ingenuity displayed in the invention of good to drive it for stacking purposes. The receiving stand, were a pair of entrance gates in wrought-rifles, stated that the question was so bound up end is then at such a level as is convenient for iron scroll work, the design of which was a with the system of cartridges, that the rifles would pitching hay or straw from a waggon, and the de-masterpiece. Messrs. Appleby Brothers appeared frequently have to be modified to suit the cartlivering end high enough for any ordinary stack. with a diamond rock borer, to which they have ridge. The first attempt to make a breech-loader Their other medal is for their admirable clod-applied a feed motion of their own, which is re- failed in England, because it was wished to use the crusher, with revolving shafts to allow the horses markable for the simplicity of the idea it emsame cartridge as that adapted to the muzzle-loader, to turn without turning the implement, on the bodies, consisting principally in the employment same principle as the great French street rollers, of differential gearing for giving the forward feed but far more mechanically constructed; for their off the same shaft which rotates the drill. It breech-loader. The defect of the Prussian and the water land roller they also obtained a prize. Mr. Ride had an excellent 8-horse Cornish boiler, with flanged ends for taking both shell and flue, and a very neat horizontal of simple construction; also a fixed millstone crane, which allows the stone to turn over easily for dressing when lifted. An adjustable shaft bracket is also worthy of notice. The hanger has a short vertical turned column descending from it, on which the pedestal slides, allowing of accurate vertical adjustment after the Bardon Hill ............ shafting is put up. A manhole arrangement Markfield fitting inside a casting on the boiler shell, so that the joint is made against planed surfaces, is also a useful and safe form of this mounting.

Messrs. Brown and Lock had a pair of portable engines of very fair construction, which they offer at exceptionally low prices, considering the quality of material employed. Their design is, in general, sound and simple, and the wearing surfaces are amply large. Their two-horse gear is also good. The frame consists of two castings only, with

bored Messrs. Ellis and Everard's Markfield
granite at the rate of from in. to lin. a minute,
which, as will be seen from the accompanying
table of hardness, by Mr. David Kirkaldy, is one
of the hardest samples known:—

Mountsorrel.
Guernsey

square foot.

and it was only when this idea was given up that any real progress was made in perfecting the Chassepot guns was that the stopper was left exposed to the action of the powder; so that the first weapon could not be fired from the shoulder, and was fired from the hip-a serious deficiency to the efficiency of the piece. The particular defect of the Chassepot rifle was that the fulminate Pressure on one Pressure on one powder was placed in the rear of the ball, and that square inch. a paper cartridge was used, leaving a residuum in Crushed at lbs. Crushed at tons. the chamber of the gun, fouling the mechanism, and impeding its working. In the case of the needle gun, the needle having to pierce the length of the charge of powder before reaching the detonating cap, was liable to get bent, in which case the point missed the fulminate powder, and the result was a miss-fire. It was thus seen that however important it was to have a first-rate breechloading rifle, it would be comparatively worthless unless the cartridge was equally efficient. Numerous attempts had been made to produce the apparently simple articles of cartridges, but it was only after numerous failures that anything like

20,742

19,096

17,533
15,062

1334

1288

1128
970

The borer was worked by one of Mr. Cowen's rotary engines, on Hall's principle, which consists of employing an eccentric revolving piston, over which is a vertical diaphragm, which the pressure of the steam maintains in constant contact with the piston; the steam is admitted by a double-beat valve worked by a cam. A new form of spring

IRON AND STEEL WORKS.-Bowling Iron Company, Bowling; Monkbridge Iron Works, Leeds; Taylor, Bros. and Co., Clarence Iron Works, Hunslet,

a serviceable cartridge had been produced. The the machine back and changing the pick. The be given of introducing into the Government works requirements of a good cartridge were that it other coal-cutting machine--which may be de- fibrous iron as the material for heavy cannon, and must not miss fire, that it must be of sufficient scribed as on the horizontal traversing slotting for devising the means of welding up the detailed strength to prevent the escape of any gas backwards, principle is the invention of Mr. Donisthorpe, of parts into one stout enduring whole. To Colonel or, in other words, be of sufficient strength not to Leeds. The machine traverses along the working Campbell is still further due the merit of resolutely burst with the explosion of the powder that the face of the coal, and cuts out a horizontal slot or undertaking the inauguration of a proper system of accounts. It should not be forgotten at this time, case, after being fired, should be easily extracted, groove along the bottom of the seam of coal, or therefore, when a commission of inquiry is about to that without being perfectly water-tight it must be, along a parting in the thickness of the seam itself. sit, that these men have done their duty, and have to a considerable extent, impervious to damp, and The work regularly done by one of these machines effected not only a large saving for the country in that it must be of a cheap and a light construction. employed at the West Riding colliery of Messrs. the actual manufacture of our artillery, but that Mr. Greenwood then described the various machines Pope and Pearson, at Normanton, is at the rate they have effected that saving while producing an that were used in the manufacture of the Boxer of 8yds. to 12yds. per hour, including all stoppages, incomparably superior article, and whilst adding on cartridge. The first was for making the Mitford and undergoing the coal to the average depth of charges at the same time to the cost of the guns, bullet, now used for the Boxer cartridge; the par- about 3ft. 4in. in from the face. At the same which, under immediately previous rule, had been When tially moulded bullets were then taken to the colliery the work done by each collier by manual illegitimately charged to other accounts. second machine, and after they left it they under- labour is about 6yds. per day of 8hrs, undergoing Gun Factory, in 1863, the iron used for the guns Colonel Campbell was placed in charge of the Royal went the process of canneluring, or of forming to a depth of 3ft. in from the face. The machine, was paid for at £22 per ton; the iron now usedfour grooves on the cylindrical part of the bullet therefore, performs the work of from twelve to properly suited for the purpose which the higherto hold the lubricating material. The next ma-eighteen men. Its operation has been found so priced iron was totally unfit for-is supplied at £10 chine was for the purpose of moulding the clay successful that it was now being employed for a per ton. Formerly, the cascables, breech-pieces, plugs which were put into the conical recess at the very long continuous face of work, and the different and trunnions were made outside the factory, and rear of the bullet, for the purpose of expanding parts of the mine are being laid out, as far as were furnished by some of our large civilian firms that part of the bullet, and pushing the lead into possible, for working according to the long-wall at from £30 to £45 per ton, whilst the iron scrap the grooves of the rifle at the moment of dis- system for the purpose of obtaining the greatest of the guns turned in the Royal Arsenal, perfectly charge; and the next made the cylindrical plug. advantage from the use of the machine. With suitable for making these parts, was sold for 35s. After that the bullet was warmed in the next ma- great clearness, Mr. Fernie showed how the ma- who reaped a fine harvest from these transactions. per ton, and fetched away in barges by speculators chine, and the clay plug pressed in, the object of chines to which he referred answered the require-Colonel Campbell stopped the sale of these turnwhich was to expand the ball, and thus more ments referred to in the introductory part of his ings and utilized them in the works, effecting thus firmly fix the clay plug by the construction when paper. up to this date in this one item a saving to the the bullet coils. The next machines described On Tuesday afternoon the members adjourned nation of not less than £100,000. were for the purpose of forming the cartridge case to visit various works of interest in the neighbour- We believe, too, we are correct in asserting that and for manufacturing the caps, and the opera-hood, the following establishments being kindly the very first gun upon the fibrous iron system was tions were explained at great length, and with opened to their inspection by the proprietors. made entirely upon Colonel Campbell's own responmuch minuteness. Altogether, twenty-one ma- IRON WORKS.-Beecroft, Butler, and Co., Kirk-sibility, and that, therefore, the country is directly chines are required in the manufacture of each stall Forge; S. T. Cooper and Co., Leeds Iron indebted to him for the unrivalled ordnance we now cartridge, but the cartridges are produced at the Works, Leeds; Farnley Iron Company, Farnley; possess. Major Anson will doubtless gain a point over Colonel Campbell. He will doubtless claim, and very rapid rate of from 5,000 to 240,000 per day. Lowmoor Iron Company, Lowmoor; Whitham and we do not see how his claim will be refuted, that Were we even allowed by the rules of the Society Son, Perservance Iron Works, Kirkstall-road, Major Palliser has suffered in being kept out of the to publish this paper in extenso, it would scarcely Leeds; West Yorkshire Coal and Iron Company's field of competition for three years by the erroneous be of use to our readers without the admirable Works, Ardsley and Tingley. statement made to the House of Commons as to the drawings which accompanied it; to follow twentycost of the guns produced at the Royal factory. The one operations in typography alone, is more than cause of the error is clear. Some 40 per cent. had man is equal to. been established under previous management as the The next paper was "On the Application of Ma-Leeds. usual charge for indirect expenses, and this percentchinery to Coal Cutting," and was read by Mr. MACHINE TOOL AND ENGINE WORKS.-Buckton age was taken as a matter of course. Subsequently, John Fernie, of Leeds. The objects to be gained and Co., Wellhouse Foundry, Meadow-road, Leeds; factory accounts, in which he scrupulously charges Colonel Campbell made a change in the system of the by the application of machinery to coal cutting Butler, Pitt, and Co., Stanningley, near Leeds; every item legitimately due to the guns, thus raising were stated to be:-First, the cheapening of the Carrett, Marshall, and Co., Sun Foundry, Dews-the charge for indirect expenses to upwards of 100 work; secondly, the saving of a large quantity of bury-road, Leeds; Fairbairn, Kennedy, and Naylor, per cent. upon labour and material, and for which coal, which, in the ordinary process of holing or Wellington Foundry, Wellington-road, Leeds; John last two items Mr. Fraser can be and really is only undergoing by hand labour with the pick, is Fowler and Co., Steam Plough Works, Leathley-responsible. The saving in the cost of manufacturbroken up into slack and dust; thirdly, the re- lane, Leeds; Greenwood and Batley, Albion ing our guns is a real and a substantial one-it is the moval of the danger attendant upon undergoing Foundry, Armerly-road, Leeds; Hutton and Mac-difference between iron at £10 and iron at £22 per by hand labour; fourthly, the getting of a larger donald, Prospect Works, Crown Point-road, Leeds; ton, the saving on this score already amounting to quantity of coal out of the pit; and, fifthly, in the Hudswell and Clarke, Railway Foundry, Jack-lane, tons in weight as it went into the furnace, was finally £300,000. On Friday an enormous mass of iron, 29 case of machines worked by compressed air, the Leeds; Kitson and Co., Airedale Foundry, Huns-welded into one solid forging for the first 600collateral advantage of better ventilation and a let-road, Leeds; Naclea and March, Union Foundry, pounder put in hand upon Mr. Fraser's system. The cooler atmosphere in the mine, owing to the disDewsbury-road, Leeds; Manning, Wardle, and Co., Horsfall gun was, from first to last, near upon six charge of the compressed air after each stroke of Boyne Engine Works, Jack-lane, Leeds; Shep-weeks in the furnaces; this, the finest work, has the tool. The difficulties attending the application of machinery to work previously done by hand were said to be greatly increased in the case of coal-cutting machines, by their having to work at great depths below ground, and in the very confined passages of a mine. The writer of the paper described two machines driven by compressed air, one having a pick worked by a bellcranked lever, with an action like that of the ordinary pick used in handwork, and the other working a straight action tool, somewhat in the manner ROM day to day fresh topics seem of a horizontal traversing slotting machine. to arise in respect to our guns, our forts, and our exBoth of these machines have now been success-periments; and, last of all, questions have been fully employed in regular work for a length of asked which seem to involve the Gun Factory itself time in the neighbourhood of Leeds. One of the in the general turmoil. To the ordinary mind, conpick machines does the whole of the undercutting founded, but a calm review of the whole position is, fusion, perhaps, may seem to be getting worse conat the West Yorkshire Coal and Iron Company's however, hopeful and satisfactory in the highest colliery, at Tingley, holing a seam 3ft. 8in. thick, degree, and something like the end of the interminthe compressed air for driving it being supplied able battle of the guns and targets, something like a by an air-compressing engine at the surface. In definite order of action and progression, something a trial recently made with this machine by the like a sensible and praiseworthy conduct of affairs, writer it was found that a pick of 75lb. weight, looms near and tangible, if only the teachings of excutting a groove to a depth of 24in. from the face, perience be accepted. The failures of the Gibraltar gave about seventy-four blows per minute. The shield and Plymouth fort have settled for ever the coal at Tingley is by the pillar and stall system of fate of the iron plank system; the success of the working, and the time occupied by the machine in Millwall shield has proved beyond all quibble that undercutting the length of 56ft., forming one pillar, Palliser shot and shell. Again, it must be iron structures can be made capable of keeping out was 25min., including all stoppages. With a pick membered, when people look upon the present state reof 90lb. to complete the previous cut to the depth of affairs as the old story that now the targets have of 3ft. 9in. from the face, the blows were about it, and by and by it will be again the guns, that sixty per minute, and the half length of 28ft. was both the victorious guns and the victorious targets undercut in 17min. The time occupied in running are ours; that it is British guns that can pierce the machine back and changing the pick was every foreign shield and ship, and that British 16min. From these trials it appears that in un-targets they are that alone can keep out British dercutting to the depth of 24in. in a single course, shot. the work done was at the rate of about thirty square yards per hour, and in undercutting in two courses to the total depth of 3ft. 9in. the work was done at the mean rate of about fifteen square yards per hour, including the time required for running

herd, Hill, and Co., Union Foundry, Hunslet-road,
Leeds; Smith, Beacock, and Tannett, Victoria
Foundry, Water-lane, Leeds; Tannett, Walker,
and Co., Goodman-street Works, Goodman-street,
Leeds.
We shall continue our report next week.

GUNS, GUNNERY, AND THE GUN
FACTORY.

FROM

been produced with only two heatings. This incident shows also the saving in labour and firing of the Fraser system. These savings will remain the same, whatever percentage may be or may not be charged for indirect expenses, such as wear and tear of hammers, machinery, and roads. We may mention incidentally that the new 10-inch gun, rifled upon the Lancaster oval-bore system, was proved on Saturday at the Woolwich Arsenal.

We now touch upon another subject well worthy of attention at this period, which has been, we believe, brought under the consideration of the Ordnance Select Committee, but as yet without decision the construction, for purely experimental purposes, of some diminutive models, upon one-third scale, to be fired at with a proportionately small gun. Such sede the practical representations of actual or inmodels would not, and are not, intended to supertended works, but would be designed to answer certain theoretical questions as to the disposition or employment of particular materials. For ourselves, we have distinctly advocated molecularly rigid iron for shot, and squashable iron, as nearly approaching to what might be termed solid-liquid, for resisting it. Just as water offers more resistance than air, and brings the shot up in a much shorter range of space, so what it takes the air some miles, and the water some hundreds of yards, to do, the iron is required to effect within the limit of a few inches. do good service; if it be hard it cracks, and the The iron must yield before the shot, like copper, to fissures form the worst part of the wounds. Nevertheless, although these are our own well-considered views, we do think it very desirable that chilled iron backing should have experimental illustration. There are numerous other points constantly cropping up at intervals only to be put aside again; very promising suggestions are in the same way condevelopments if the germ of probable good results stantly being made which might lead to profitablo were definitely proven to exist. We hope, there

France has tried, Prussia has tried, America has tried
Of British guns the country may be justly proud.
-all have failed. England alone has produced, and
can produce, such magnificent weapons as our 9 and 10-fore, that a limited and well-planned use of minia-
inch rifled guns. To Mr. Fraser, under the straight-ture models may receive proper consideration
forward action of Colonel Campbell, is the credit to -"Standard."

MR.

MARINE ENGINE.

it has acted in the high-pressure cylinders 2. The
cylinders 2 and the low-pressure cylinders 8 may
steam on its passage between the high-pressure
be dealt with as in Mr. Macnab's earlier engines, or
marine engines of the same class.
in the same manner as in any of the various existing
The steam
passes from the intermediate chamber 11 by pipes
12 to the valve chests of the low-pressure cylinders
8. Our engraving shows the most convenient
arrangements of the pump gear, valve gear, and other
minor details.

A NEW VALVE.

R. WILLIAM MACNAB, the well-known engineer and shipbuilder of Greenock, has recently patented some improvements in marine steam engines of the kind patented by him in 1862. His invention consists in disposing the low-pressure cylinders which have trunks and the high-pressure cylinders which have solid piston rods horizontally and vertically respectively, or at right angles to each other, but with both low-pressure and highpressure cylinders of each pair acting on one crank pin. These improved engines may be used in single pairs, but engines comprising two pairs, or, in all, four cylinders, with the crank of one pair at right T has been found very difficult to prevent the angles to that of the other pair, form a very good leakage of steam or water round the stems of and steadily working arrangement for large powers. steam or water valves or faucets, and many plans In our engraving we show an example of Mr. besides the ordinary gland or stuffing-box have been Macnab's engine constructed with four cylinders. devised and used. The most recent method of Figs. 1 and 2 are elevations at right angles to each obviating this difficulty is that shown in the accomother, one of the condensers, 1, being omitted in panying engraving, which is the invention of Mr. H. fig. 2, and fig. 3 is a sectional plan of one-half of G. Morris, of Philadelphia, U.S., and which has just the engines, and with the high-pressure cylinder 2 been patented in this country. Fig. 1 is a sectional omitted. In this example the two high-pressure elevation, and fig. 2 a horizontal section on the cylinders 2 2 are inverted and over the crank shaft line y of a globe valve, constructed, according to 3, being supported on framing 4 5 similar to what this invention, to operate the valve. Mr. Morris is in use with ordinary inverted cylinder screw en- employs a stem A which can be turned by the wheel gines, but combined with the framing 6 7 of the B by means of the spline or feather c. This stem horizontal low-pressure trunk cylinders 8 8 below. has a collar D, which is seated at dd upon the A rectangular bed frame is formed by the combina- centre-piece E, and made to form with it a steam or tion of the lower parts 9 of the trunk cylinder cast-water-tight joint, the pressure of the steam or water ings on one side of the crank shaft 3 with three and the nut F upon the stem above the turning transverse castings 7 having upon them the crank shaft bearings, and with two longitudinal castings 6 on the other side of the crank shaft, and carrying the condensers 1 and air and other pumps 10. Down upon the last-mentioned bed frame castings 6 are bolted the cast-iron standards 4 for supporting one side of each of the high-pressure cylinders 2, whilst the other sides of those cylinders are supported upon a long cast-iron or malleable iron box 11 which rests upon wrought-iron columns 5 fixed in the castings 7 below, the whole thus forming a compact and well balanced arrangement. The box 11 serves as an intermediate chamber to receive the steam after

wheel or handle holding the collar up to its seat.
The collar may be held to its seat by a spring or
rivet in place of the nut F. Below this collar, Mr.
Morris gives to the stem A of the valve the form in
section of a square polygon or key, or he places a
spline or feather in the same in order that it can be
entered into a sleeve within the valve spindle or
screw c, fitting loosely in it, so that when the stem
is turned the spindle sliding freely upon it will be
raised or depressed by means of the thread upon the
outside of the spindle, which runs in the nut formed
at g g in the centre-piece E.

By this construction the strain of seating the

FIG. 2.

valve spindle is made with an intersect thread into which is screwed the collared nut H, having previously slipped upon the spindle the loose-fitting ring I, which is screwed tightly into the disc J, letting it make up on the shoulder at k, so that the disc will be free to rotate on the end of the spindle (the nut H), and thus avoid any grinding action on the seat when the valve is opened or shut.

THE TANK SYSTEM OF DRAINAGE AT

HASTINGS.

2. What ought to be the functions and authority of medical officers of health?

3. What is the relation of the water supply

A THOROUGHLY efficient system of drainage, in large towns to the health of the inwater su

Rock, the Mayor of Hastings, was opened in that town on Monday last. About twelve years since, Hastings was drained at a cost of £16,000, on a system adapted to the natural levels, and the sewage flowed into the sea from several outlets. At all times of tide these outlets discharged, causing much offence both to the atmosphere and to the water wherein visitors bathed. At the upper portion of the town fever appeared, but the lower part was free. The reason assigned for this was, that the noxious gases naturally escaped at the highest part, and hence the appearance of fever in the upper levels of the town. As an improvement, the authorities adopted the open system and purified the sewers by means of charcoal. To some extent this succeeded; still the open system was a nuisance, and the constant discharge of filth into the sea at the height of the bathing season was a matter of constant complaint. At length, Mr. Rock's plan was adopted, the satisfactory results of which were made evident on Monday. By this system a main sewer having a fall of 5ft. 6in. per mile intercepts all the old drains and carries the sewage eastward to a tank holding 1,500,000 gallons, the maximum accumulation during twenty-four hours. The sewage is stowed in the tank until low water, and then discharged, the action of the tide taking it eastward, and away from the town. The whole of the sewage is thus got rid of in about an hour, at intervals of little more than twelve hours. The discharge from the tank is through about half a mile of 4ft. iron culverts, with a fall of 10ft. per mile. The cost of the system is about £30,000. On the top of the tank are charcoal boxes, through which the air passes. Upon the occasion in question, the pipe from whence the drainage escapes into the sea was officially opened; the sewage accumulated in the tank escaped into the sea about a quarter of a mile to the eastward of the great tank. The first effect was a rush of water, into the air, caused by atmospheric pressure. The sewage could be seen rushing into the clear water, and then passing rapidly to the eastward with the tide quite clear of the town. The experiment was entirely successful, and Hastings is now completely drained. The contractor for the works is Mr. Howell, who has carried out a similar system in St. Leonards. We understand that an experiment is about being made to extract the aqueous parts from the solid matter, intercepting the ammonia from the liquid. Mr. Rock, the inventor, desires to purify the drainage, and to bake the solid parts into powder, to be used for manure.

JURISPRUDENCE DEPARTMENT.

Section A, International Law.-1. Ought private property at sea to be exempt from capture during war?

2. Under what circumstances ought change of nationality to be authorized?

Section B, Municipal Law.-1. Is it desirable to reorganize our courts, superior and local; and, if so, on what system.

2. What amendments are required in the existing law of bankruptcy?

3. Is it desirable to amend the present law, which gives the personal property and earnings of a wife to her husband?

Section C, Repression of Crime.-1. What are the best means for the suppression of vagrancy? 2. Ought the principles of the reformatory system, including voluntary management, to be extended to adults?

3. What are the principal causes of crime considered from a social point of view?

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.

1. Is it expedient to make primary education compulsory, and, if so, on what conditions? 2. In what form and by what means can instruction in science and art be provided so as to promote the improvement of our manufactures? 3. What measures are required for the further improvement of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge?

HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

1. Can the public hospitals and dispensaries of this country be so administered with regard to the system of giving advice gratis as to conduce more to the welfare of the community?

ECONOMY AND TRADE DEPARTMENT.

1. Is it desirable to have an international coinage, and, if so, in what form?

THE

not, indeed, bound to consider even whether the alteration which Corporal Peake had made in his ammunition actually improved or lessened his chance. The one thing was, had he complied with the condition as laid down, of using strictly "Whitworth ammunition issued on the ground," and no other-no modification of or addition to this am

2. In what manner can arbitration and concilia-munition? It is, in our opinion, not a good sign tion be best applied in the settlement of disputes when an action of this sort meets with as much between employers and employed? open sympathy as it has received from some of our 3. To what classes and on what conditions should contemporaries; but it is only fair to add that no outdoor relief be administered? such feeling pervades the camp generally. On the 4. What are the social results of the employ-contrary, very general satisfaction is openly exment of girls and women in manufactories and pressed that an attempt to take an unfair advanworkshops? tage in an important competition has been so signally frustrated. There is no wish to see the THE QUEKETT MICROSCOPICAL CLUB. tricks of the Turf or commercial morality imported at Wimbledon, which has hitherto been able HE third annual general meeting of the above to boast at least that its competitions are animated society was held at University College on by a spirit of honourable rivalry. This incident Friday evening; Mr. Arthur E. Durham, F.L.S., has thrown a shade over what has been, in other President, in the chair. The report of the com- respects, a very pleasant and successful meeting. mittee showed that during the past year 133 new It is to be hoped that Corporal Peake's misfortune members had been added to the list, the total if no higher motives-will prevent a repetition number to June 30 being 382; the cabinet con- of such conduct. tained 700 mounted specimens, a considerable number of works had been added to the library, and the field excursions had been highly successful. The report of the treasurer showed that there remained in hand a very satisfactory balance. After the adoption of the reports, some alterations in the by-laws were made, and the following gentlemen were elected as officers for the ensuing year:-President: Mr. Arthur E. Durham. VicePresidents: Dr. R. Braithwaite, Mr. M. C. Cooke, Dr. J. M. Dempsey, Mr. F. C. Roper. Committee: Mr. T. W. Burr, Mr. F. W. Gay, Dr. W. J. Gray, Mr. R. T. Lewis, Mr. W. J. Bockett, Mr. T. Ketteringham. Treasurer: Mr. Robert Hardwicke. Hon. Secretary: Mr. Witham M. Bywater. Hon. Secretary for Foreign Correspondence: Mr. M. C. Cooke. The President's address was then delivered, in the course of which he warmly congratulated the members upon the continued success of the club, reverting to the progress which had been made, and throwing out many valuable hints for the future. The address was listened to with marked attention, and a unanimous vote of thanks to the President brought the proceedings to a close.

THE QUEEN'S PRIZE.

THE PATENT OFFICE MUSEUM AND
LIBRARY.

ORD EBURY presented to the House of Lords

on Friday last, petitions, praying for better accommodation for the Patent Office Museum and Library, from scientific men, inventors, journalists, working men, and others, assembled in public meeting at the Society of Arts, on July 2, signed by Leone Levi, LL.D., chaiman; from the council of the Public Museums and Free Libraries Association, consisting of 107 persons, being fellows of several learned societies, professors of colleges, working men and others, engaged in promoting the general and the scientific education of the people, signed on behalf of the council, by Robert Kerr, professor, King's College, London, and E. Lankester, M.D., F.R.S., vice-president, J. T. Dexter, secretary; from the Workmen's Technical Education Committee of the Working Men's Club and Institute Union, signed by Hodgson Pratt, chairman; and from the St. James' and Soho Working Men's Club and Institute, consisting of 1,000 members.

His Lordship warmly advocated the prayer of the petitions, and elicited from the Duke of Marlborough a promise that the best consideration of the Government would be given to the sub

Wimbledon last week, touching the disquali-ject. ROM our hasty gleanings in the camp at fication of Corporal Peake for the reception of the Queen's prize, we were led to sympathize with that THE "AMMONOOSUC." gentleman. The plain facts of the case having since come out more fully, it is only just that we HE late trial of the " Ammonoosuc " (No. 2 of the should make them known. To this end we cannot "Wampanoag" class), during which, according do better than reproduce the following comments to the reports, great speed was attained, is, of course,

TH

our contemporary:-We must profess ourselves and Congressional favour for these monuments of
unable to appreciate the sympathy which has been engineering folly. But no one who understands the
facts in regard to these vessels will be at all led
expressed in some quarters for Corporal Peake, astray by the fine figures of trial-trip reports. For
who has been disqualified for the Queen's Prize at this speed, so loudly proclaimed, has been attained
Wimbledon on account of his having infringed an by the utter, and entirely unnecessary, sacrifice of
essential condition of the competition. The only every quality which a ship of practical use should
thing which could possibly justify sympathy under possess. We, "U.S. Army and Navy Journal,"
these circumstances would be the assumption that have repeatedly shown by unchallenged comparisons
the council have arrived at a wrong verdict upon that the "Wampanoag "class would not only be
the facts. But on this point there seems to be no faster ships with machinery constructed after old and
reason for any doubt or uneasiness. The matter
well-tried plans, weighing much less, and occupying
was very patiently investigated; the evidence much less space in the vessels, but that they also
against Corporal Peake was of the highest and could have carried a proper battery, plenty of stores,
and more coal-and that, too, where it belongs, in
most trustworthy character, and his own admis-the hold-besides being fully rigged and possessing
sion went a long way towards establishing the those sailing qualities without which a vessel car-
partial violation of the condition referred to. The rying so little coal as the "Wampanoag" or "Am-
question to be determined by the council was-Did monoosuc " is practically useless. Even admitting
Mr. Peake use precisely the same ammunition as that such very high speed is essential in our navy,
the other competitors? It is well known to it could easily have been obtained without annihilating
"small-bore men" that in very hot weather the every condition which any naval officer will admit
shooting of the Whitworth rifle may be sensibly to be fully as essential as speed.
improved by the employment of a more efficient
lubricator than is furnished by the wad which is
attached to the base of the cartridge. What is
alleged is that Mr. Peake, availing himself of his
knowledge of this fact, employed a greased wad in
addition to the regular cartridge wad, and that by
thus modifying or improving the ammunition
Issued to him he obtained a sensible advantage
over the other competitors. Upon this question,
whether Mr. Peake had tampered with his am-
munition, the council were called upon to decide,
and the evidence was such as to satisfy them be-
yond all reasonable doubts that he had done so.
We really do not see how, under these circum-
stances, they could have done other than they did,
unless, perhaps, they had pronounced a more severe
sentence than simple disqualification. They were

For instance, the machinery of the "Minotaur," frigates about three times as large as these ships "Lord Clyde," and " Bellerophon "-three English of ours-weighs about one-third less, occupies little more than half the space, and yet runs off over 2,000 more horse-power. This English machinery is constructed after the ordinary plan. If the "Wampanoag and "Ammonoosuc were provided with such machinery, it is plain that the same power could be obtained, without sacrificing the practical value of the vessels. Even greater speed could be reached than now, for the ships would carry less weight. And, as to the cost, it would be hardly more than half as much as the complicated and cumbersome machinery with which they are now filled. These facts have not been, and cannot be, controverted. The trial trips of both the "Wampanoag" and "Ammonoosuc" have only served to give them greater force.

TEMPLE STEAMBOAT PIER AND LANDIN G-S TAG E